Even as NASA welcomes home the crew of one its final shuttle missions (just two days after commemorating the 40th anniversary of the miraculous return of the Apollo 13 crew), it's grappling with how to adapt to a new President's plan for its future. TIME takes a look at the dimmer moments in its history: the canceled projects, the failures and some notable mishaps

The Final Apollo Missions

By Claire SuddathMonday, Apr. 19, 2010

NASA planned 13 manned missions to space, starting with Apollo 8. The first 10 went relatively fine (well, except for Apollo 13). But Apollo 18-20 never got off the ground. Literally. Apollo 20 was canceled first; its rocket was needed for another project. Then a series of congressional budget cuts required NASA to scale back on costs. In September 1970, Apollo 18 and Apollo 19 were scrapped. These days, you can see Apollo 18's Saturn V rocket lying on its side in Houston. It is now essentially a $225 million lawn ornament.